Reclosable carton



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INVENTOR RICHARD C. PEET BY W ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 R. c. PEET3,498,522

RECLOSABLE CARTON Filed May 17.1968 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 INVENTOR RICHARD C.PEET BY /ZW-%,(ZAM

ATTORNEY United States Patent O US. Cl. 22917 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A carton having side and wall panels and extensions on saidpanels forming top closing flaps for the carton. The top closing flapsinclude side and end flaps. The outer of the side flaps have a segmentdefined therein by a first weakened tear line extending across the outerside flap from its free edge to its folded juncture with the side panel.This segment of the outer side flap is provided with a slot opening. Theinner of the side flaps has a segment at one end defined by a secondweakened tear line extending across the inner side flap from its freeedge to its juncture with the side panel. The first weakened tear lineis displaced from the second weakened tear line to define an area on theinner side flap between the first and second weakened tear lines forsupporting the segment of the outer side flap when the carton is closed.The edge of the segment of the inner side flap is provided with a tabfor engagement with the slot opening in the outer side flap. The tabsegment of the inner side flap underlies the slotted segment of theouter side flap when the carton is closed and overlies theslottedsegment of the outer side flap when the carton is reclosed. Reclosure isaccomplished by inserting the tab in the slot.

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvedreclosable carton designed to contain for instance comminuted foodstuffsand other merchandise only a part of which are used at any one time.

BACKGROUNDDESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A variety of cartons have beendeveloped characterized by a breakway top portion which forms a spoutopening through which the contents of the carton may be dispensed. Noneof these pour-spout types of cartons are without shortcomings, however.For instance, many of the cartons are without reclosable means. Others,although containing a reclosable means such as flaps provided with atab-slot reclosable feature, leave much to be desired, particularly withrespect to ease of reclosure and in the effecting of secure closures. Acommon problem is created in these types of prior art cartons by thelack of a base support for the top flaps of the carton in closedposition. As a result it is difficult to engage the upper flap tab withthe under flap close-slot no matter how careful the attempt. Moreover,after repeated openings and closings, the pour spout flaps tend tocollapse into the interior of the carton and must be extricated on eachopening. Once this happens the carton cannot be properly closed.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION A carton has now been found which overcomesthe aforementioned disadvantages of prior art cartons and facilitatesbetter, neater, more secure and easier closure of the carton. The cartonof the invention has side and Wall panels and extensions on said panelsforming top closing flaps for the carton. The top closing flaps includeside and end flaps. The outer side flaps have a segment defined therein'by a first line means extending across the outer side flap from itsfree edge to its folded juncture 3,498,522 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 withthe side panel. The line means is adapted to separate the segment of theouter flap from the remainder of the outer flap. The segment of theouter flap is also provided with a slot opening. The inner side flap hasa segment defined therein by a second line means extending across theside flap from its free edge to its folded juncture with the side panel.The second line means is adapted to separate this segment from theremainder of the inner side flap. Preferably, the first and second linemeans take the form of weakened tear lines. In accordance with theinvention the first line means is displaced from the second line meansin order to define on the remainder of the inner side flap an underlyingsupport area for the slotted segment of the outer side flap when thecarton is closed. A tab is provided at the outer edge of the segment ofthe inner side flap opposite the slot opening of the outer side flap forengagement therewith. Thus, when the carton is initially closed, the tabsegment of the inner side flap underlies the slotted segment of theouter side flap. After opening of the carton reclosure is accomplishedby inserting the tab of the segment of the inner side flap into the slotopening of the outer side flap so that in reclosed position the tabsegment of the inner side flap overlies the slotted segment of the outerside flap and is supported in horizontal position by the support areadefined by the first and second line means in the outer and inner sideflaps, respectively.

Thus, the present invention provides a carton that eliminates thecollapse problem that has plagued the prior art for years andsurprisingly facilitates closure with unusual ease and efliciency, evenafter continued use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following is a detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to beread with the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understoodthat the detailed description and drawings are provided for purposes ofillustrating the preferred embodiment and that the invention is capableof numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank forming one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the upper or top portion of the cartonwith the top flaps partly closed prior to sealing;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper or top portion of the cartonpartly open;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton fully open and indispensing position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the carton top reclosed after opening.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 represents a blank forming an embodiment ofthe invention from which the carton is formed. The blank comprises endpanels 4 and 6 and side panels 8 and 10. End panels 4 and 6 and sidepanels 8 and 10, as shown, are rectangular in shape, end and side panelsbeing of the same dimenison respectively. The carton blank isadvantageously vertically scored in fold lines 12, 14, 16, and 18 andhorizontally scored adjacent its lower edge by score line 20 whichprovides bottom end flaps 22, 24, 26, and 28. Flaps 22, 24, 26, and 28are preferably rectangular in shape and are separated by cuts 30, 32,and 34 which are extensions of fold lines 12, 14, and 16, respectively.Top end flaps 36 and 38, which are preferably rectangular in shape, areextensions of end panels 4 and 6, respectively. Cuts 40, 42, and 44 areupper extensions of fold lines 12, 14, and 16 and separate the top endflaps 36 and 38. A glue flap 46 extends outwardly from side panel 10.

Extending upwardly from side panel 8 is an inner side flap generallydesignated as 48. The inner side flap 48 is provided with a segment 50defined therein with a vertical weakened tear line 52. Segment 58contains a slot opening 62 with which tab 54 cooperates when the cartonis formed and is of greater horizontal dimension than segment 50. Itshould be understood that although the segments 50 and 58 are defined ina preferred embodiment by weakened tear lines any suitable line meanswhich separate the segments from the remainder of the respective innerand outer side flaps can be used as, for instance, cuts.

The carton may be formed by folding the blank along vertical fold lines12, 14, and 16 into rectangular form with outer flap 46 glued to theinner surface of end panel 4. Top end flaps 36 and 38 are then foldedinwardly into horizontal position. Inner flap 48 is folded inwardly andinto a horizontal position overlying the top end flaps 36 and 38 asshown in FIGURE 2. Outer flap 56 is then folded to and adhesively bondedto inner flap 48 to complete closure of the top or upper portiton of thecarton. Any suitable adhesive such as varnish can be used for thispurpose.

After the top or upper portion of the carton has been sealed,merchandise may be placed directly into the carton or into a linerprovided the carton and the liner and the bottom of the carton sealedindividually in manners well known in the art.

The carton may be easily opened by pulling segment 58 upwardly whichbreaks the segment clear of the carton top along tear line 60 (FIG. 4).The remainder of the outer side flap remains in horizontal positionadhered to the inner side flap. If desired a tab may be provided segment58 to facilitate the upward pulling of the segment. Next segment 50 isseparated from the remainder of inner flap 48 by grasping tab 54 andpulling upwardly thereby tearing segment 50 free along weakened tearline 52. End flap 38 is then pulled up to place the carton in an open,dispensing position. Also, since segment 58 is of greater longitudinaldimension than segment 50 by virtue of the longitudinal displacement ofweakened tear line 52 from weakened tear line 60, there is provided anarea on the inner side flap 48 between said weakened tear lines as abase support for the segment 58 when the carton is reclosed.

Reclosure of the carton top is accomplished by folding inwardly end flap38 in a horizontal position, followed by folding segment 58 inwardly ina horizontal position onto base support area 64 (see FIG. 4). Segment 50is then folded inwardly onto segment 58 and the reclosure completed byinserting tab 54 into slot opening 62 (see FIG.

The preferred construction of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, but changes and modifications can be made and some featurescan be used in different combinations without departing from theinvention.

It is claimed:

1. A carton having side and wall panels, extensions on said panelsforming top closing flaps for said carton, said top closing flapsincluding side and end flaps, the outer of said side flaps having asegment defined therein by a first line means extending across the outerside flap from its free edge to its folded juncture with said sidepanel, said line means being adapted to separate said segment from theremainder of said outer flap; said segment of said outer side flapincluding a slot opening, the inner of said side flaps having a segmentdefined therein by a second line means extending across the side flapfrom its free edge to its folded juncture with said side panel, saidsecond line means being adapted to separate said segment from theremainder of said inner side flap, said first line means being displacedfrom said second line means to define on said remainder of the innerside flap an underlying area of support for said slotted segment of saidouter side flap when the carton is closed, a tab at the outer edge ofthe segment of said inner side flap opposite the slot opening of saidouter side flap, said tabbed segment of the inner side flap underlyingthe slotted segment of the outer side flap when the carton is closed andoverlying the slotted segment of the outer side flap when the carton isreclosed, reclosure being accomplished by inserting said tab in saidslot.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein the first line means is a weakened tearline.

3. The carton of claim 1 wherein the second line means is a weakenedtear line.

4. The carton of claim 1 wherein the outer side flap is adhesivelybonded to the inner side flap.

5. The carton of claim 1 wherein'the outer edge of the segment of saidinner flap containing said tab is cut back.

6. A carton having side and wall panels, extensions on said panelsforming top closing flaps for said carton, said top closing flapsincluding side and end flaps, the outer of said side flaps having asegment defined therein by a first weakened tear line extendingtransversely across said outer side fiap from its free edge to itsfolded juncture with said side panel, said segment of the outer sideflap having a slot opening, the inner of said side flaps having asegment at one end defined by a second weakened tear line extendingtransversely across the inner side flap from its free edge to itsjuncture with the side panel, said first weakened tear line beingdisplaced from said second weakened tear line to define an area on saidinner side flap between said first and second weakened tear lines forsupporting said segment of the outer side flap when the carton isclosed, said end flaps underlying said inner side flap when closed, theedge of said segment of the inner side flap being cut away and having atab opposite the slot opening of said outer side flap, said tabbedsegment of the inner side flap underlying the slotted segment of theouter side flap when the carton is closed and overlying the slottedsegment of the outer side flap when the carton is reclosed, reclosurebeing accomplished by inserting said tab in said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,202 3/1939 Guyer 229-172,864,547 12/ 1958 Guyer 2295 1 2,933,23 0 4/1960 Yezek 22917 2,946,4967/ 1960 Stagmeier 22917 3,079,063 2/ 1963 Yezek 22917 3,136,471 6/1964Brastad 22914 3,366,310 1/1968 Simpson et al. 229-51 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD,Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

